Help me spend my onboard credit!

[turning46]

With this never-ending winter dumping MORE junk this week, my thoughts are turning more desperately toward our April sailing to West Caribbean. We will be aboard the Silhouette, and we have abut $190 in OBC from our TA. We'll be visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Labadie.

 

I purchased, as a birthday gift to my husband, a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel. We have no excursions purchased for the other ports, but will probably want to do some snorkeling and some sight-seeing.

 

My question: would you put the $190 OBC toward an X excursion? Toward specialty dining? Wine tasting/Reidel workshop? Blow it at the casino?

 

We already upgraded to premium drinks package, so that's out. I can't decide how to spend this $$, and it's fun to daydream about it on this dreary, dratted winter day. Advice?

[TobyKnits]

Did you prepay your gratuities? I am of the thrifty frame of mind and would consider the OBC as going for gratuities first.

 

Also, I find booking independent tours through the roll call to be more to my liking than Celebrity excursions.

[Miss JAD]

How about the spa and a nice dinner at one of specialty places

[miched]

If you want me to help spend your on board credit the best way would be to transfer it to may account. :D All donations appreciated. 💰

 

 

🌅🌴🍸🍻

[hulamoon]

:) ok...I would spend in spa, or port excursions. Possibly restaurants. Are your

Tips prepaid? If not they can help with those.

 

You might save the wine tasting for later as your package lets you taste all you want to.

 

When you day dream, which option suits you more? Daydream about excursions and google a few. Is the birthday being celebrated on the cruise? Maybe go to specialty restaurant after your nice excursion. On the silhouette? I think lawn grill is great for birthday parties.

 

As far as the snow..I wish it could be shared with the western US. Where is that fancy weather control equipment I heard about a few years ago.

[turning46]

Did you prepay your gratuities? I am of the thrifty frame of mind and would consider the OBC as going for gratuities first.

 

Also, I find booking independent tours through the roll call to be more to my liking than Celebrity excursions.

 

Good thinking! We are Select Dining, so yes, our gratuities are prepaid. I generally like the independent tours much better, too, but we were thinking maybe booking an X one either on Grand Cayman (because we tender there) or on Jamaica (because I've read the independent offerings are slimmer, there).

 

We've only been on one cruise before, and we didn't try any of the specialty restaurants - the MDR suited us just fine! The Reidel workshop looks interesting, too. We could always play a lot of Bingo . . . :D

[akowilm]

If you plan on doing anything in Jamaica, book through Celebrity. Then you are sure to get back to the ship on time. We missed the dealine by 2 hours, :eek:but since we were booked through the ship, they waited.

[Duanerice1]

As silly as it sounds we are in the same boat. We'll have $600 in OBC for a 10 day cruise and gratuities are paid. My wife is not a big fan of the specialty restaurants but we may hit a few. But it is kind of nice thinking about having to spend money :)

 

Personally I don't think I'd ever take a ship tour unless it was a risky excursion (getting back to the ship), and some are. They are usually too crowded so that is out.

 

We will probably upgrade her to the premium beverage package once on board so that will take some of it.

 

She does like the casino so I am sure she might use some there even with the 5% fee for taking it. Not sure of fee, just what I heard.

 

Might buy that polo shirt I'd never think of buying because they are usually too expensive. Maybe she'll buy a little bit of jewelry, something she wouldn't normally buy.

 

The cool part is that by the time we get there everything will be paid but the beverage upgrade. And yes, I know I can take it out less 5% and bring it home. But what fun is that? it will be neat knowing we have money to spend and not really worry about it.

 

Enjoy your fun problem.

[yayvacation!]

I would put it towards specialty dining personally. Plus I always feel there is something that surfaces on the ship that I end up spending money on even when I have a beverage package and pre paid gratuities!!

 

I personally prefer private excursions so I wouldn't use the OBC on an X excursion.

 

If you do end up with any OBC leftover at the end of the cruise they just apply it as a credit to your credit card on file. Nothing like getting paid when you leave the ship!!

[2theship]

How about a nice portrait by the ship photographers?

[neeko]

I would spend on gratuities and duty free on board

[MCKC]

If it's not too late snag a Cabana on Labadee!!

[upwarduk]

We bought an iPad on Eclipse in March 2013.

The $-£ exchange was in our favour.

[Holly2]

I've been told that a Celebrity OBCs are not refundable unlike those from TAs.

I'd go with specialty restaurant or spa. Enjoy.

[kathynorth]

Since the $190 is from your TA you should be able to receive a credit for any unused portion via your credit card. If you want to be off ship for Jamaica, then I suggest putting part of the OBC toward a ship excursion. We usually take private tours, but after reading lots of posts decided to take a ship tour last time we visited Jamaica. We took the tour that goes to the cave and waterfall and had a great time.

Edited February 5, 2014 by kathynorth

[true45]

OBC very easy to spend

We had $300 on Connie last wk

We did gratuities, discounted dinner at Tuscan Grille, lunch atBistro on 5, excursion Ghosts & Gravestones in Key West (inexpensive), espresso & IGLU at cafe al bacio, mermaid dolls from boutique onboard & a couple of large bottles of water. We had CC so wine already in room. Had bill for $6 at end

 

Happy sailing

[mardon]

I would suggest you either book an excursion in Jamaica or stay on the ship. Not the safest port to walk around

[drarill]

A couples massage and a romantic diner :):)

[urkidn]

My DH signed up for some fitness classes that ate up about $150 pretty quickly. Next he bought a pair of insoles there that sold for $180. After that I banned him from the gym!

[Lois R]

Hi:)....for the original poster...just so you know, the credit will be put

onto your account...(190.00)......and anything you buy? It will be

deducted from that total......so when you ask what you should use it

for? If you book dinner, or book a spa treament..or book an excursion?

Those amounts will be charged to your account...once the 190.00 is

used up? You will owe the rest;)...200.00 bucks is not hard to spend

really.....

[turning46]

Thanks for all the ideas! I know the $$ isn't all that much, so I want to use it wisely (or frivolously, but in a smart way, lol). I appreciate all your input and experience!